Pollution incidents and environmental damage

Fire is a serious risk to the environment. You should always try to reduce the risk of fire and the damage that fire and firefighting could cause.

To prevent pollution from firefighting you should:

• discuss how to manage contaminated firefighting waste (firewater) and your firefighting response options with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service
• prevent firewater from escaping, for example by temporarily blocking drains or using a containment barrier or firewater containment facilities on your site
• ensure that your fire protection systems and fire extinguishing equipment comply with ozone-depleting substance and fluorinated gas regulations
• check if you need a major accident prevention policy for storing large quantities of dangerous substances - see control of major accident hazards (COMAH)
• create an incident response plan which assesses firefighting response options

Deal with polluting foams safely

Some older firefighting foams can contain restricted ‘persistent organic pollutants’ (POPs) such as PFOS-related substances.

If you have foam concentrates on site, check the safety data sheet or ask your supplier to confirm what they contain.

Don’t let used foam enter drains, surface waters or groundwater: contain it for off-site disposal by a permitted waste contractor, or seek written approval from Northern Ireland Water before any discharge to the foul sewer.

How to control firewater

Firefighting water (firewater) can pick up oil, chemicals and debris and quickly pollute drains, rivers and land.

Build firewater control into your emergency planning: agree response options with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS), identify where you can contain run-off, and make sure staff know how to block drains safely.

If you use firefighting foams, check your product information and keep disposal and clean-up arrangements in your incident response plan.